I would probably say 4 to 5 years from seedling to fruit in Michigan. They recommend you plant two or more for cross pollination. Once they get established, you will likely end up with a spreading paw paw patch. I’m not sure if mine are spreading by seed or by roots, but they’re definitely spreading. Paw Paws are one of the first trees to flower (deep purple flowers) and are pollinated by flies. Bees don’t’ work them.

One thing I’ve observed about paw paws is they aren’t all the same. Some trees/cultivars produce premium large fruit in abundance like in the photo above. Other trees produce small fruit in a sparse fashion. I started with two trees. One I bought in Memphis, TN and one I bought here in Michigan. The Michigan tree was a clone (ie graft) from Paw Paw development they do at Michigan State University. That tree produces nice big paw paws and has very nice fall foliage (yellow) and large leafs. The Memphis Paw Paw tree has grown like crazy and is covered with blooms in the spring, but only produces a few small paw paws. It also has poor fall color.

So beware there is a large variation in the quality of paw paw trees. I would recommend buying a named cultivar. My Michigan State paw paw is a graft, whereas my Memphis tree was just a regular seeding (no graft). My Memphis Paw Paw will probably meet up with the axe soon. It’s grown big and just isn’t as nice of a tree.

How about finding somebody with a variety that you like and graft it? I have been playing with apples and If I set 5 and get one I am happy. I just tried 8 bud grafts on some espaliers, it was really easy! The nurseryman I hunt with showed me how it is done. They let them grow the season and then everything other than the graft wood gets cut off. The tree has a odd kink in it but you have fruiting tree almost right off.

Of course Oregon, is the tree nursery for the nation so if you’re getting your paw paw seedlings from a local grower, they might be a good tree; who knows. Otherwise, grafting a stem from a good tree onto a seedling whip is the way to go.

I’ve had a heck of time getting paw paw seeds to germinate when I’ve spent the time and effort to stratify and plant them. I’m batting about 0 for 200. Luckily mother nature seems to be more competent than I am since I now have about 20 seedlings growing around the original trees.

The seedlings look more like the desirable Michigan State University tree than my other tree. So who knows, maybe seedlings from a good cultivar will end up making nice fruit? My guess is my seedlings might start fruiting next year. I might know the answer then.